A Review of Greenhouse Gas Scope 3 Emission Calculation Results Among Leading Electronics Manufacturers and China's Evolving Energy Greenhouse Gas Regulations Affecting These Manufacturers' Future Activities

摘要

This study provides insights into the greenhouse gas emission results available among electronics companies and associated value stream impacts from the manufacture and use of these products and services. The study focuses on a review of selected companies in the Information, Communication and Technology sector, commonly referred to as the ICT sector. The studied companies include some of the most prominent global brands in the personal computer, mobile telephone and software markets. A value stream describes the sequence of activities required to design, produce, and provide a specific good or service, including all the information, materials and people involved. Greenhouse gases emissions result along the entire value stream - from extraction and processing of raw materials, resulting intermediates and components, product production and manufacture, product use, and the end-of-life impacts associated with product disposal or recycling activities. The study summarizes the approaches used by different companies to address and quantitatively assess their value stream impacts, with an emphasis on Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions. China's recent and emerging energy efficiency and greenhouse gas regulatory programs and associated 5-year plans are a pertinent part of this study. These new requirements are expected to have a direct impact on electronics manufacturers and their activities in Asia and China, and their associated greenhouse gas performance among each other. The study includes an analysis of China's 12th five-year plan (FYP) that incorporates objectives of energy efficiency and greenhouse gas reductions. Resources supporting the study include the World Resources Institute / World Business Council for Sustainable Development, 'Product Life Cycle Accounting & Reporting Standard'. Data sources supporting the analysis included the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) Investor Reports and individual company websites. Information about China's evolving regulation was attained from government and analyst sources.